Connecting device for fuses and blasting cartridges, etc.



June 12, 1923.

F. WELLS CONNECTING DEVICE FOR FUSES AND BLASTING'CARTRIDGES AND SO FORTH Filed March 10, 1922 4 I X F ject of the Kin FRANK OI KINGSTON, ENGLAND.

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Application filed larch 10, 1982. Serial Io. 548,785.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Wnus, a sub- 4 I of Great Britain, and residing at 2 Fair eld West, Kingston, Surrey,

England, have invented certain new and use- I Improvements in Connecting Devices for Fu "and Blasting Cartridges Etc. (for applications in England 6th, 1921 ;"re s'pectively), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ,appliances for 7 connecting fuses or fuse wires, or detonators nator should this be or both torimers, blasting cartridges, explosives annfso for h. v

One ofthe objects of the invention is to provide an appliance for connectin a fuse and detonatorto a blasting cartri ge in a simple and convenient manner so as to hold the various arts in the required relative positions whilst at the same time forming a joint which is impervious to the ingress v of water'or other extraneous matter.

A further" object of the invention is to I connect the detonator to the blasting cartridge in' 'such a manner that the connecting app lance will form a cushion for the detopressed through the side of the cartridge, and thus prevent premature'explosion.

still further object of the invention is to provide a suitable casing and cap for the blasting cartridge which completely enclose the"'cart ridge in a water-tight manner and thus prevent the cartridge from being rendered useless by the in ress of water or other extraneous matter whi t the cartrid e is being storedina damp place and at t e same time facilitate the handling thereof.

a These and other objects are attained by the use of a connecting device and cartridge casing of'whic'h the preferred embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompan ing'drawings, wherein Fig; I 'shows'the connecting appliance in the extended position.

'Fig. 2' shows the connecting appliance ready for-use in attaching the fuse to a blasti cartridge.

ig. '3 shows the connecting device at tached to the fuse with the detonator inserted in the blasting cartridge.

Fig." 4 shows the'device fully applied to the cartridge.

Fig. 5 shows a section of a cartridge encased and fitted with the fuse and detonator ready for use, and

Fig. 6 shows a blasting cartridge with its casing.

Re errlng now to the drawings, the appliance for connecting a fuse with a detonator attached thereto to a cartrid e consists of a tubular envelo e 1, of ru ber or other suitable elastic an waterproof material, provided at one end with a tubular extension 2 of reduced cross section.

At the other end the tubular envelope 1 is preferably provided with a rim 3 of greater thickness than the remainder of the envelope. The envelope is suitably moulded and coated with French chalk and is then rolled into the form shown in Fig. 2 in which condition it is cured, so that when afterwards extended into the position shown in Fig. 1 it will remain extended without any tendency to roll up. The appliance, however, is preferably maintained in the form shown in Fig. 2 as in this form it is easily fitted on to a fuse, and after the fuse with the detonator has been inserted into a cartridge 4 the envelope 1 can be conveniently unrolled overthe end of the cartridge. The diameters of the sleeve 1 and extension 2 of the jointing appliance are preferably such that when they are in position on the fuse or fuse wire or detonator or both, and the explosive cartridge, the rubber or other elastic material, of which the appliance is made, is in tension and exerts a pressure on these parts so as to hold the arts in their relative positions while at the same time rendering the joint waterproof.

In fitting together the fuse and cartrid a hole is first formed at 5 in one end of t e cartridge 4, in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a stick of wood: The cartridge 4 may be a a primer for explodin a mam charge, and may be in the form 0 a stick of dynamite wrapped in waxed paper, or in the form of blasting cartridge, or

containing fulmina-te of means of a suitable tool, such its The fuse and detonator are then passed through the tubular extension 2 of the con--' necting-aplpliance 1n the rolled-up condition shown in ig. 2, and the detonator-is then fitted into the hole 5 in the cartridge 4 as shown in Fig. 3. The sleeve 1 is then unrolled on the cartridge 4 so that it assumes the position shown in Fig. 4. In this manner the fuse and detonator are secured to the cartridge or primer 4 and the whole arrangement 1s ready for use.

As a stick of dynamite is comparatively soft it frequently occurs that if the hole 5 is made at a slight angle the detonator 6 is liable to be pressed out of the side of the stick of dynamite when it is being inserted into the hole or when the dynamite is being forced into the exploding position b a ramming tool, when a pliable fuse is use or by the fuse when a stiff fuse is used. The detonator may thus be brought into contact with a hard substance and cause premature explosion. As the sleeve 1 of the connecting appliance extends beyond the depth of the hole in the dynamite the detonator 6, if pressed through the side of the stick of dynamite, would come into contact with the sleeve 1 which would form a cushion therefor and thus prevent premature explosion.

In order to further rotect the cartridge or rimer 4 against moisture it is preferably enrsosed b a casing or tubular envelope 11, of rub or or other suitable elastic and waterproof material which is completely closed at its end 12 whilst its other end is provided with a rim 13 to prevent any ingress of moisture or the like. This casing 11 is preferably placed over the cartridge 4 before use as a protection therefor when storing, and when the jointing appliance is applied to the cartridge 4, the sleeve 1 is unrolled over the casing 11 as shown in Fig. 5. The casing 11 also serves to protect the cartridge whilst it is being handled for the insertion of the fuse or otherwise, whilst it also protects the said cartridge whilst being inserted into the explosive position.

For storing purposes the other end of the cartridge or primer 4 is suitably enclosed by a cap 14 of rubber or other suitable elastic and waterproof material of a relatively shorter length than the casing or tubular envelope 11. The cartridge is thus com letely closed in a water-tight manner unti re uired for use. When it is desired to use t e blasting cartridge or primer 4, the small cap 14 is rolled or slipped off the cartridge 4 so as to expose the end thereof, for the purpose of inserting the detonator 6, and connecting it thereto.

The casing 11 and cap 14 are preferably of lesser diameter than the cartridge 4 so that when in position they are drawn tightly against the cartridge and thus prevent any ingress of moisture or other extraneous matter. Y .f

Having thus described my invention what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An appliance for connecting a fuse with a detonator attached: the eto to a blasting cartridge or primer having a recess for the detonator, said a pliance comprising a normally extended tu ular portion through which the fuse and detonator are adapted to be assed, said tubular portion being of sma ler diameter than the fuse so as to grip the latter tightly when passed therethrough, and a tubular sleeve having corrugations formed therein attached to the tubular portion, said sleeve being of larger diameter than the tubular ortion, but of smaIler diameter than the lasting cartridgeor pri-" mer, said tubular sleeve being normally rolled up upon itself and being adapted to be unrolled over the blasting cartridge or primer, the corrugations serving to retain the sleeve in the rolled up condition and prevent said' sleeve from being rolled up when extended over the blasting cartridge or primer. i

2. An appliance for connecting a-"fuse. with a detonator attached thereto to a blast-" ing cartridge or primer, comprising a tubular envelope closed at one end, said envelope being of elastic and waterproof"mate-' rial and of smaller diameter than the cartridge and adapted to be drawn over the'said' cartridge, a rim around the openend of the envelop, a tubular sleeve having corru'ga-" tions formed therein and constructed of ela s-" tic and waterproof material, said sleevebeing normally in the rolled up condition, but 'being adapted to be rolled over'the cartridge and the tubular envelope, the corrugations preventing said sleeve from rolling up after it has been extended, a normally extended tubular portion attached to said tubular sleeve, said tubular portion'being of smaller diameter than the tubular sleeve and also ofsmaller diameter than the fuse, the fuse with the detonator attached thereto being adapted to be passed through said tubular portion, and a rim at the end of the tubular sleeve;

3. An appliance for connecting a fuse with a detonator attached thereto to 'blasting cartridges, primers and so forth, comprising a tubular sleeve having corrugations therein, said corrugations serving to retain the sleeve in the rolled up condition while preventing it from being rolled upwhen extended over the blasting cartridge or primer, an enlarged-rim at one endof said tubular sleeve, and a normally extended tubular ortion attached to the other endof the eeve, said tubular portion being-of smaller diameter than the tubular sleeve.-

FRANK WELLS.- 

